CHATTER LVIII.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 298, 12 September 1888, Page 5

CHATTER LVIII.

THK HORDKK A\ ATCII TOWEK. Away upon the bleakest and wildest por^ fc ions of the North country coast, there stood, at the time of our fetory, a pile of grey old ruins, known by the name of the Border Watch Tower, because of a tall turret or tower which loomed up above the main structure, and from which, in days gone by, the border warriors were wont to reconnoitre the movements of their enemy Tire surrounding country was very bleak and desolate, and the old castle, with its ruined drawbridge, and stagnant moat, and crumbling battlements, was perhaps the dreariesfcand most uncanny old place within the length and breadth of England. For ages it had been utterly deserted, save by the bats and owls, and the ghosts of the mailed warriors, who used to hold their nightly revels in ita spacious halls. On one side, its grey and mouldy parapets looked down into the sullen waters of Solway Firth, and on. the other hand outstretched a blighted heath, utterly sterile and verdureless, dotted here and there with dwarfed oaks and black thorn bushes, and bounded by a ledge of wild, rocky cliffs. Under the base of these extended a gloomy cave, known among the peasants as the ' Hermit's Cave,' and inhabited, so they asserted, by a weird old man, with fiery eyes and flowing beard, whose life, like that of the Wandering Jew, was endless ; and who possessed, moreover, the übiquity of Asmodeoiiss, appearing under the shadow of the black thorns at one moment, and away up on the beetling summit of the bald cliffs in the next. In the dead of night, the same night on which our last chapter closed, a carriage rolled up the broad avenue that led to this grim old Watch Tower. The immense gate* stood wide open, as they had been standing, no doubt, for half a dozen years ; and the carriage drove in, and over the mouldy flag-stones, up to the front* entrance. The driver leaped from his box, and threw open the carriage door. He was a tall, dark man, with an ugly face, and a deep scar, like a sabre cut across his right temple. ' Here we are, my lord,' he said. Lord Angus put his head out, and looked about him. ' Dark as a dungeon,' he ejaculated, with a slight shudder, as his eyes roved over the great grey oile of ruins looming up before him in the summer stai'light. ' S'pose you run up and knock, Berket, and be sure you're all right.' The man ' ascended the long flight of steps, which led to an arched doorway and proceeded to pound lustily. At tirst. only the bats and owls, startled from their roost, made any sound in response. He knocked again, with the loaded end of his whip, till the empty halls within rang with the sound. Ten minutes passed, and then a sound of footsteps eciroed within, and presently, after a great clatter of bolts and bars, the massive doors swung cautiously open, and the dried and wrinkled face of an old v-ouian looked out. ' Who's that ?' she demanded, in strong Scotch accent, one hand on the door, and the other'on the head of an immense bloodhound, that crouched at her side, with blood-shot eyes, and red, half-open jaws. ' Me, Mother Gwynneth, me, to be sure !' cried Berket ; ' the day o' judgment might come, an' ye'd never know. Why, I've been poundin' here an hour.' 'Ihearnye,' responded the old woman. * Be the young laird coom ?' Berket nodded as he turned and ran down the steps. ' All right, yei lordship,' he called at the door of the carriage. Lord Angus leaped out, with Maggie in his arms. The poor girl had given over resistance. The sight of the driver's wicked face, and of the grim and ghostly old building, awed her into silent obedience Her face was as white as the young moonlight that began to shimmer on the Scottish peaks, and her eyes wore a solemn, startled expression. If Heaven did not interpose and save her, she was lost. The young man set her feet upon the mouldy flag-stones, and drawing her hand through his arm, led her along by his side. They ascended the steps and approached the door, where the old woman awaited them with a dim lantern in her hand. At sight of them, the bloodhound uttered a terrible growl, and moved stealthily forward. 1 Doon, ye brute— doon this rninnit !' commanded the old woman. He cowered back in an instant, and the old woman came forward, her leaden eyes lighting at the sight of Lord Strathspey's face. 'I dinna be f-ure it was yer lairdship,' she said, watching him with a curious, eager look, and touching his arm with her withered hand ; ' but I know it's yersel' now. Yer a braw lad now. 'Tis mony a year since me auld eyes had sight of ye. A braw young laird ye be. ' Lord Angus shook oft her hand with an oath, staring at her in amazement. ' Hush your gibber, will yon ?' he cried harshly. 'Do you mean to keep me out here all night ?' The old creature hm'ried back, allowing him to pass in, with a look of pain and disappointment in her leaden eyes like that we often see in dumb animals. ' The young leddy's room be all ready,' she said, humbly. * Will ye go right up< now, or ' ' Right up now,' interrupted the young peer. ' Lead the way. ' She obeyed in silence, going before them up the great oaken staircase, the blood> hound crouching along at her heels. She paused midway the great hall that ran fromf the head of the stairs, between two rows of chambers that had once been very grand and stately, and taking a key from her pocket, unlocked and opened one of the carved oaken doors. Lord Strathspey,- with Maggie on his arm, followed her into a large^ and handsome apartment. In its day, this old state chamber had been a magnificent one, but now the tapestry was faded, and-moth-eaten, rats burrowed behind the carved wainscot, and the bronze candlesticks and ornaments on the marble mantel were green with mould. The rich-furni-ture, too, of an antique style, wassadly. decayed and faded, and the great Turkishrug in the centre of the floor sent up little 1 puffs of dust at every touch of their feet,. The solitary candle that burned on the^ mantel threw a dim and ghostly light into the distent corners of the vast room, where an immense bed upreared itself like a mountain, all draped with faded velvet, and barely disclosed the dim portraits of some dead-and-gone race that adorned the walls.

Altogether ib was as dreary and tomblike a chamber as one can possibly imagine. Lord Angus led bis lovely young prisoner into this haunted old state-chamber, and seated her, with a bow of mocking gallantry, on the velvet couch that tilled one corner. Then he'turiie'd td the old woman, who stood just within the doorway, hei eyes following him with that curious, eager look. 'Give me the key,' he said, roughly, ' and take yourself off. I can tind my way down.' She obeyed without a wotd, and with the key in his hand the young man turned to Maggie. •You believe mo now ?' he began, his evil eyes flashing with triumph; 'you see J how completely you are in my power ? The doors are strong- here — to-night the great i gates will bo closed ani locked, and day I and night that old orone and her bloodhound will siand guard to prevent your escape. You tee there is no hope for you.' Maggie uttered no word in answer. She sat motionless on the edge of the moth' eaten sofa, her face w hite and rigid, her sweet brown eyes stony with horror and despair. The young lord's heart relented a little as he looked at her. ' I don't like to do tint,' he continued, his tone softening as he spoke ; ' I want to be good to you. Magaie — it is all your own fault. The moment you consent to become my wife, you are free. 1 want you to think it over to-night and make up your mind to like me — you can easily enough if yon will. I shall come to see you early in the morning, and if you'll say the word we will bo married at once, and I'll take you back to your father the Countess of Strathspej Towers.' Still she uttered no word in response, but sat in that white, stony silence. The young man could not bear to look at her, and he turned toward the door. ' I won't annoy you to-night,' he said ; ' you're tired. I'll go down and send Gwynneth in with some supper and a glass of wine, and you'll feel better to-morrow. Good-night, Maggie.' He lingered an instant, hoping she would speak, but she did not, and he went out, closing and locking the door after him. And Maggie was left alone a prisoner in this great, ghostly old chamber.